News & Blog

Last Saturday I went to meet the saxophonist/composer Barbara Thompson. I also got to meet her lovely husband Jon Hiseman (drummer, engineer, sometimes gardener). I had such a good time that I wanted to share it with all of you. Continue reading “Meeting Barbara Thompson”

Gail is a founding member of the recorder ensemble Consortium 5. Having met her many years ago through mutual friends (and study) our paths seem to cross more and more frequently. She has also just set up a new company with some other innovative types who say this of themselves:

“Soundcastle is a pioneering arts collective which creates original music by engaging first and foremost with the people and the place in which the music is to take place. Our mission is to:

I first came across Barry Douglas through my husband who plays in his chamber orchestra, Camerata Ireland. Barry is one of the most incredible concert pianists out there with a biog that most of us could only dream of. He’s also a great socialite and banishes all the myths about soloists who can’t talk to us normal folk. What a guy.

So Barry, where can we start? Do you like garlic snails (being an inhabitant of Paris)?
No I’m not a great fan though I have tried them a few times. I like riz de veau which I thought I’d never like- but I like small portions.

Liam Noble is an incredibly inventive pianist and composer, praised most recently by Dave Brubeck for ‘going so far into the unknown’. I saw Liam on many gigs while I was studying but I didn’t meet him until I graduated – at the time I was taking the odd lesson with various musicians as a way of continuing my study. I had a great time with Liam talking about many interesting things, approaches to playing music, how to think about music and the jazz scene – he also introduced me to Henry Threadgill…

Rory Simmons runs Fringe Magnetic, plays regularly for Jamie Cullum and is also a member of the Loop Collective.

We’re two of many musicians living on South East London and hope to collaborate on a project next year, celebrating new music and improvisation.

Could Catford be the next ‘place to be’ for Jazz in London?

Catford spawned the career of Billy Jenkins I think. That’s a good accolade for any suburb of south east london. Apart from that, we have a giant plastic cat looming over our shopping centre, this architectural triumph is a constant inspiration to my music.

I first heard Iain on a recording of Loose Tubes when I was a teenager and I think I was about 18 when I had my first lesson with him. I have quite a few memories of Iain playing – here are a couple I’d like to share:

Django Bates was touring with his Quiet Nights band and I went to hear them in Birmingham. They were playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and there was this incredible moment where the voice of Josefine Cronholm merged into the sound of Iain’s tenor and that memory has stayed with me for life (you can hear it on the album too). In fact it inspired me to mimic that effect in my own band Tangent, but blending sax into cello instead.

Another great memory was hearing Iain play with Kenny Werner at the Wigmore Hall. Iain only played a few tunes but it made such a huge impression on me – they called a few tunes on the spot – one of them was Giant Steps… I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone else reinvent that tune so successfully.

Trish Clowes is supported by PRS for Music Foundation

Trish Clowes is a Vandoren UK artist

Myself and Tom Harrison are very excited to announce Emulsion VI festival! It will take place on June 15th-16th at the Gateway Education & Arts Centre in Shrewsbury. It will be headlined by pianist Robert Mitchell, who will perform a solo set on Friday 15th… and the Emulsion Sinfonietta will perform on Saturday 16th. Hopefully, […]

Last weekend was totally brilliant, if slightly mad! On Saturday I had the honour of playing alongside the legend saxophonist Peter King at the 606 Jazz Club’s Saxophone Summit. Here’s me (with Alex Hitchcock and Vasilis Xenopoulos) looking in awe at the man himself! Then on Sunday I premiered ‘Loujean & Lucy’ at the Royal […]

It’s continuing to be an action packed Autumn! First bit of news is to announce that I have become an ambassador for the charity Donate4Refugees. I’m very excited to take on this new role and look forward to supporting and learning from this incredible charity over the years to come. They carry out essential work […]

Christina Bauer interviewed me for the summer edition of Sonic Magazine in Germany. Thank you to her for the fantastic questions and conversation… You can find a copy through www.sonic.de (snapshot of the interview above). And on November 22nd, MY IRIS will be visiting Ulm to perform at the Stadthaus Ulm. Details here So I need […]

We had a great time this week playing at Wigmore Hall for a Wigmore Learning concert, working alongside presenter Pete Letanka. (As it happens myself and Ross will be working with Pete again in November for a family concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra). Here we are setting up… Then later that day we whizzed […]